Almost sixteen years ago, Mateo Matisse's island homeland disappeared into the sea. Weary and hopeless, the survivors of San Madrigal's sinking escaped to New York.
While the rest of his tight-knit Brooklyn diaspora community dreams of someday finding a way back home, Mateo--now a high school junior and piano prodigy living with his two aunts (one who's alive, the other not so much)--is focused on one thing: getting the attention of locally-grown musical legend Gerval. Mateo finally gets his chance on the night of the Grand Fete, an annual party celebrating the blended culture of pirates, Cuban Santeros, and Sephardic Jews that created San Madrigal all those centuries ago.
But the evil that sank their island has finally caught up with them, and on the night of the celebration, Mateo's life is forever changed when he witnesses a brutal murder by a person he thought he knew.
Suddenly Mateo is thrust into an ancient battle that spans years and oceans. Deadly secrets are unraveled and Mateo awakens a power within himself--a power that not only links him to the killer but could also hold the key to unlocking the dark mystery behind his lost homeland.
From the author of the award-winning Shadowshaper Cypher series comes the first novel in the Outlaw Saints duology--a brilliant story that will transport readers to a world where magic, myth, and gods reign over the streets of Brooklyn.---from the publisher
384 pages 978-1368070829 Ages 12 and up
Keywords: duology, fantasy, magic, mythology, myths and legends, gods and goddesses, Latino, Latina, Latinx, Latino author, diversity, diverse books, high school, music, 12 year old, 13 year old, 14 year old, coming of age, urban fantasy, New York, murder, finding yourself
Other titles in the Rick Riordan Presents collection:
- Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez
- Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee
- Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia
- Paola Santiago and the River of Tears by Tehlor Kay Mejia
